Adjustable louver



June 2, 1936. J. E. MURPHY ET AL 2,042,617

I ADJUSTABLE LOUVER Filed Jan. 22, 1934 2 Sheet's-Sheet l A June l2,1936- J. E. MURPHY ET A1. 2,042,617

ADJUSTABLE LOUVER Filed Jan. 22, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY BY ACN.Plz-0500 Patented `lune 2, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ADJUSTABLELoUvEn James E. Murphy, Helmuth W. Schmitz, and Alexander M. Peabody,Seattle, Wash.

Application January `.22, 1934, Serial No. 707,690

1 Claim.

This invention relates to louvers and it has reference more particularlyto louvers of that character designed for application to wall openingsfor purposes of Ventilation and for admittance of light; the device ofthis invention being especially applicable to window transoms or otherwall openings, as provided in passenger carrying ships and railway cars,for purposes of obtaining light and proper ventilation.

It is the principal object of the invention to provide a deviceembodying a plurality of co-operatively arranged, pivotally adjustablelouver panels mounted in a frame structure that is applicable to a wallopening as a unit structure, and including means fo-r effecting asimultaneous adjustment of all the louver panels between open and closedpositions.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a louver structure inwhich the panels are mounted in parallel relation and have supportingpivots at their opposite ends in axial alinement and wherein all thepanels may be adjusted into the same plane, in edge to edge relation, tocompletely close the opening to which theyT are applied or may beadjustedY toward either side of the said plane to various angularpositions between closed and fully opened positions.

Another object of the invention resides in the rounding of the adjacentedges of the louver panels to provide for their coming in close relationfor film sealing when moved to closed position.

Other objects of the invention reside in the details of construction ofthe various parts, in their relationship, and in their means for andmode of operation, as will hereinafter be fully described.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, we haveprovided the improved details of construction, the preferred forms ofwhich are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, Where- Fig. 1 is anelevation of the present louver as applied to a window opening; theillustration showing the device from the outside.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section, as seen on line 2--2 in Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a vertical, cross section, taken on line 3-3 in Fig. 1. v

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional detail of the upper or head portion, takenon line 4--4 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional detail taken on line 5--5 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a sectional detail illustrating the rounding of the paneledges for obtaining a close fitting joint for lm sealing.

Fig. 'l is a view diagrammatically illustrating a mechanical meansemploying cylinders and a iluid pressure medium for actuating the louverpanels of a series of openings between open and closed position.

Fig. 8 is a similar View illustrating a cable connection for actuatingthe panels of a plurality of louvers.

Referring more in detail to the drawings- The louver, in its presentform of construction, comprises a rectangular frame structure of sheetmetal and of such dimensions that it will closely t within the openingto which it is to be applied. 'Ihis frame comprises a lower sill portion2, opposite side portions 3-3 and a top or head portion 4; each of whichparts is pro-vided with an inturned flange 5 about its inner edge, asseen in Fig. 3, and with an out-turned flange 6 about its outer edge forreception of screws, or the like, 'I for securing the frame to theenclosing framing, including the Wooden top and bottom members 8 and 9seen in Fig. 3 and the opposite side rails IIJ and IB', as seen in Fig.2. Suitable casings, as at II may be provided about the louver frame topresent an attractive finish tothe opening.

The openingl provided within the frame structure of the louver is ofrectangular form and ls fitted with a plurality of vertically arrangedand parallel louver panels I2, preferably of glass. Each panel is seatedat its upper and lower ends, respectively, in grooved mounting barsI3-I3 each of which has a central pivot member. The pivot members I4 andI4', respectively, of correspending upper and lower bars are in axialalinement and the several panels pivot in either direction aboutparallel axes.

A metal bar I6 is secured longitudinally of the frame upon the sillportion 2 for re-enforcing and this is provided with sockets II in whichthe pivots I4 of the lower panel mounting bars I3' are revolublycontained. The pivots I4 of the upper bars I3 consist of short shaftsthat extend revolubly through openings I8 in the head portion 4 and alsothrough openings I9, registering therewith, formed in a re-enforcingplate secured longitudinally upon the head portion 4, as seen in Fig. 2.These latter pivots I4 have gear wheels 2| fixed thereon to mesh withteeth 22 of a rack bar 23 that is slidably movable in guides 24 xed uponthe plate 20.

The bar 23 at a central point has a gear toothed top surface 25 withwhich a gear wheel 26 meshes. Wheel 26 is fixed on a shaft 2'I mountedin bearings 28 iixed to plate 20 and it extends to the inside of theframe where it is equipped with a hand wheel 30.

The construction above described provides that upon manual rotation ofthe hand wheel, in opposite directions, the rack bar 23 will be shiftedaccordingly in an endwise direction. The shifting of this bar effects alike rotative movement of all gears 2l and thus simultaneously effects arotative adjustment of the louver panels, which may be swung fromneutral position, at which they completely close the opening, as seen inFig. 1, to different angular positions as illustratedrin dotted lines inFig. 2.

It will be observed by reference to Fig, 6 that adjacent edges of thepanels are rounded oi arcuately as at 35 about the axial lines of thepanels. Thus, they are permitted to be brought substantially into linecontact, or sufficiently close' that the joint between them can besealed by a water film. This is advantageous as it provides for tightlyclosing the louver by an adjustment whereby all panels are brought intothe same plane and thus avoids necessity of overlapping the panel edgeswhich would limit the adjustment of the panels to one direction.

In Figs. 7 and 8 we have illustrated diagrammatically means forautomatic actuation of a series of louvers. As shown in Fig. 7, there isa cylinder 40 associated with each louver. Piston 4I is reciprocallycontained in the cylinder and connected by a link 42 with a lever arm 43lixed on the hand wheel shaft 21. Pressure medium supplied by a pipe 45is adapted to be admitted through a valve device 46 and pipes 41--48 tothe cylinder at opposite sides of the piston to actuate it in oppositedirections. The valve is a four-way construction and by its manipulationthe louver panels may be adjusted in opposite directions from closedposition. One valve may control the application of pressure medium tothe cylinders of a series of louvers.

In Fig. 8 is another form wherein a cable belt 50 is extended aboutwheels 5| and 52 and along a series of louvers and the levers 43 of theseveral louvers are connected to the lower run of the cable forsimultaneous operation which is effected by rotation of the wheel 5I.

yWhen closed, they effectively keep .out rain as the water seals theclose joints between closed panels. Water which might seep through thepanel joints 'is drained back to the outside through perforations in thebase bar as seen in Fig. l, since the upturned flange prevents itsiiowing to the inside.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new therein anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is- In a louver construction, ametallic frame structure tted in a wall opening and having top andbottom sills said bottom sill having an upturned flange along its inneredge, a rail fixed lengthwise of the sill and spaced from the flange,and provided with drainage ports therethrough from its inner to itsouter side, a plurality of louver panels arranged vertically in saidframe and having mounting pivots centrally at the upper and lower ends;the lower pivots being mounted in said rail and the upper pivotsextending through said top sill, gear wheels xed on said pivots abovethe top sill, a rack bar slidable on said sill and meshing with saidgear wheels, manual means for shitting the rack to effect rotativeadjustment of the louver panels; said panels having parallel axes andparallel opposite side edges, and said edges being arcuately curvedabout their axes, whereby edges of adjacent panels may be broughtsubstantially into line contact for film sealing.

JAMES E. MURPHY. HELMUTI-I W. SCHMITZ, ALEXANDER M. PEABODY.

